One of PST's central values is to encourage young poets. Long-time West Tennessee member Frances Cowden has been instrumental in this outreach, and has been recognized by the National Federation of State Poetry Societies for her work. Educator and poet Seth Grindstaff carries on this tradition as lead for our student poetry contests once again for 2023-2024.
ABOUT OUR STUDENT CONTESTS
PST sponsors a contest open to all Tennessee students; non-residents may enter if they join PST as student members. Student categories are shown below:
PUBLICATION
First place poems will be published in Tennessee Voices, PST's poetry anthology. Where to buy.
ABOUT OUR STUDENT CONTESTS
PST sponsors a contest open to all Tennessee students; non-residents may enter if they join PST as student members. Student categories are shown below:
- Elementary (Grades 2-5)
- Middle School (Grades 6-8)
- High School (Grades 9-12)
PUBLICATION
First place poems will be published in Tennessee Voices, PST's poetry anthology. Where to buy.
2024/2025 PST STUDENT POETRY CONTEST
Check back for details on our next student contest, which should open in August 2024.
Check back for details on our next student contest, which should open in August 2024.
2023/2024 PST STUDENT POETRY CONTEST WINNERS
High School Division
1st Place: Miriam Manna for “Court House on a Thursday Afternoon,” West Ridge High School, Blountville TN
2nd Place: Aimee Segoviano for “Benedictions,” East High School, Memphis TN
3rd Place: Kaiowa Hatfield for “Fire Isn’t a Thing, It’s Just a Circumstance of Temperature," West Ridge High School, Blountville TN
4th Place: Lillian Bates for “February,” West Ridge High School, Blountville TN
5th Place: Piper Keene for “Peace and the Absence of Chaos,” Daniel Boone High School, Johnson City TN
Judge: Scott Honeycutt
Middle School Division
1st Place: Kaydence Davis for "Your Melody" White Station Middle School, Memphis TN
2nd Place: John Nguyen for "Fork in the Road" White Station Middle School, Memphis TN
3rd Place: Erin Goggans for "Spider Lilies" White Station Middle School, Memphis TN
4th Place: Draven Baggett for "Nature's Rest" Colonial Middle School, Memphis TN
5th Place: Adaira Davis for "Focus" William James Middle School, White Bluff TN
Honorable Mentions:
Judge: Jeff Price
Elementary Division
1st Place: Luke Pyron for “The Geyser” Columbia Academy, Columbia TN
2nd Place: Martha Manire for “The Little Brown Snake” Columbia Academy, Columbia TN
3rd Place: Vivian Sweeney for “Pink” Columbia Academy, Columbia TN
4th Place: Finn Grindstaff for “Apples” Providence Academy, Johnson City TN
5th Place: Marcus Hardin for “The Puppy” Columbia Academy, Columbia TN
Honorable Mentions:
Judge: Micah McCrotty
Many thanks to all entrants, to teachers and parents, and to judges for making this event a success.
High School Division
1st Place: Miriam Manna for “Court House on a Thursday Afternoon,” West Ridge High School, Blountville TN
2nd Place: Aimee Segoviano for “Benedictions,” East High School, Memphis TN
3rd Place: Kaiowa Hatfield for “Fire Isn’t a Thing, It’s Just a Circumstance of Temperature," West Ridge High School, Blountville TN
4th Place: Lillian Bates for “February,” West Ridge High School, Blountville TN
5th Place: Piper Keene for “Peace and the Absence of Chaos,” Daniel Boone High School, Johnson City TN
Judge: Scott Honeycutt
Middle School Division
1st Place: Kaydence Davis for "Your Melody" White Station Middle School, Memphis TN
2nd Place: John Nguyen for "Fork in the Road" White Station Middle School, Memphis TN
3rd Place: Erin Goggans for "Spider Lilies" White Station Middle School, Memphis TN
4th Place: Draven Baggett for "Nature's Rest" Colonial Middle School, Memphis TN
5th Place: Adaira Davis for "Focus" William James Middle School, White Bluff TN
Honorable Mentions:
- Mycah Arnold for "Fleeting" White Station Middle, Memphis TN
- Elizabeth DeBlasis for "Somewhere over the Rainbow" Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville TN
- Vincent Cubberley for "Summer Day" Lenoir City Christian Academy, Lenoir City TN
- Braylon Robinson for "Ode to Nature" Colonial Middle School, Memphis TN
- Yixuan Chen for "Dreaming" White Station Middle School, Memphis TN
Judge: Jeff Price
Elementary Division
1st Place: Luke Pyron for “The Geyser” Columbia Academy, Columbia TN
2nd Place: Martha Manire for “The Little Brown Snake” Columbia Academy, Columbia TN
3rd Place: Vivian Sweeney for “Pink” Columbia Academy, Columbia TN
4th Place: Finn Grindstaff for “Apples” Providence Academy, Johnson City TN
5th Place: Marcus Hardin for “The Puppy” Columbia Academy, Columbia TN
Honorable Mentions:
- Samuel Bolton for “The Koala” Columbia Academy, Columbia TN
- Lola Loveless for “Me” Columbia Academy, Columbia TN
- Evelyn Johnson for “Blue Sky” Columbia Academy, Columbia TN
- Wren Carmona for “Draw” Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville TN
- Hayes Ledbetter for “The Flood” Columbia Academy, Columbia TN
- Garrett Thomley for “The Attack on Omaha” Columbia Academy, Columbia TN
- Ivy Janovitz for “Callen” Holy Trinity Montessori, Nashville TN
Judge: Micah McCrotty
Many thanks to all entrants, to teachers and parents, and to judges for making this event a success.
Previous Year Winners
2022/2023 Student Contest Winners
2021/2022 Student Contest Winners
2020/2021 Student Contest Winners
2020/2021 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - High School
2020/2021 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - Middle School
2019/2020 Student Contest Winners
2019/2020 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - Middle School
2018/2019 Student Contest Winners
2017/2018 Student Contest Winners
2017/2018 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - Elementary School
2017/2018 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - Middle School
2022/2023 Student Contest Winners
2021/2022 Student Contest Winners
2020/2021 Student Contest Winners
2020/2021 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - High School
2020/2021 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - Middle School
2019/2020 Student Contest Winners
2019/2020 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - Middle School
2018/2019 Student Contest Winners
2017/2018 Student Contest Winners
2017/2018 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - Elementary School
2017/2018 Student Eye Poem Contest Winners - Middle School
National Student Poetry Contests
Annually, the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) sponsors the Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest for middle and high school students. Students may enter other NFSPS contests exclusively for students; see the NFSPS contests page.
Annually, the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) sponsors the Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest for middle and high school students. Students may enter other NFSPS contests exclusively for students; see the NFSPS contests page.
Student Membership
Students are invited to join the Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) at a reduced rate and enter Monthly Members-Only Contests. Click here for additional information on joining PST. This is a great opportunity to develop skills and become a published poet.
Students are invited to join the Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) at a reduced rate and enter Monthly Members-Only Contests. Click here for additional information on joining PST. This is a great opportunity to develop skills and become a published poet.